Dog kills two goats used for clearing brush, dog owner issued criminal citation

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4) — In March, the City of Eagle Mountain started a new program using goats to clear weeds and vegetation in the city’s native open spaces. On Friday morning, a loose dog attacked the herd and killed two of the goats. As a result, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office issued the dog’s owner a criminal citation.

On North Saddle Horn Drive, the sound of bleating goats fills an otherwise quiet neighborhood.   

“I was like, ‘What there’s goats? What the heck is that?’” Mabel Hardwick told ABC4. She and her daughter, Addi, live nearby and stopped to look at the animals. “It’s something totally unusual. I don’t usually see this type of thing in this neighborhood.”  

Hardwick likes the idea of the city’s goat program. “I like that they’re going to clear it away and make it more accessible,” she stated. Hardwick told ABC4 that her daughter often walks their dog in the area where the goats are currently corralled and having the area clear will make the walks more enjoyable.  

“I love animals and I’m very good with animals too, even goats,” Addi said as she leaned in on her mom.  

You can imagine their surprise when they learned two goats were killed.  “Yeah,” Mabel said. “Take care of your dogs.”  

On Friday morning, Florencia Villegas looked out of her backyard. “I just see them huddled up, like, right in that area,” she said pointing to the goats.  

The goats were scared of something, then she noticed a dog. A husky had made its way into the enclosure. She posted on Facebook hoping someone would recognize it. “As a dog owner I just care,” she stated.  

Villegas wasn’t the only one to see the husky. Others commented on her post saying they had seen some huskies running around the area as well. She worried what could happen. She added: “And not hurt these poor animals. They don’t deserve to be hurt.”  

She didn’t know it but two goats had been killed. However, the sheriff’s office told ABC4 that the dog responsible was actually a pitbull mix. The sheriff’s office issued its owner with a criminal citation, and the owner will have to appear in court.  

The sheriff’s office also told ABC4 that it will have extra patrols in the area for the time being, and the goats’ owner is increasing her security measures as well.